Printing-machine.



. No 895,290.. i A. MGPHBRSON- PRINTING MACHINE. urmouxox FILED mix.@1901.

PATEBTTED AUG 4, 1908;;

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2 fie?" 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 PATENTED AUG. 4,1908.

of the chase bars ALFRED MCPHERSOX, OF STOKE NEWINGTQN, ENGLAND.

PRIN TIN G-MACHIN E.

Application filed March 6, 1901. Serial No. 360,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED MCPHERsON, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at 44 Fountayne road, Stoke Xewington, in the countyof Middlesex, England, printer, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements Relating to Printing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to printing machines and has particular referenceto those of the kind that are employed for addressing envelops and thelike and in which the mat ter to be printed is arranged on numerousloose and independent type bars or slips which are fed to the machineand taken by a reciprocating table in, say, groups of four lying oneagainst the other, and carried beneath an impression cylinder to effectthe printing, after which they are conveyed away from the machine to asuitable receptacle.

The chief object of this invention is to enable the said bars or slipsto be separated from each other so as to be correctly spaced prior tothe printing operation for which purpose the chase, which supports theaforesaid type bars or slips and winch is carried by the re ciprocatingtable, is composed of several portions adapted, while moving towards thelmpression cylinder carrying the paper onvelop or other article to beprinted upon, to be separated or spaced to the requisite degree, so thatthe various lines of printed matter impressed on the envelop or the likeare at the required distance apart, the said portions, after theprinting operation, closmg together again prior to their removal fromthe machine.

The invention also embodies other features which will be hereinafterdescribed.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I will describe the same more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings-in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of printing machine constructedaccording to this invention. 1 is a plan of the gearing forreciprocating the table of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan showing them intheir spread orv separated position. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of thearrangement shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional eleva-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

tion of the means for feeding the type bars onto the chase.

A is a framework of the machine; B is the impression cylinder.

B B are the inking rollers and C is the re-' ciprocating table thatcarries the chase B The means for driving the reciprocating tablecomprise in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 1 a motor a, connectedby a.

'chain or belt a to the wheel (L2 on the shaft a on which is also fixedthe gear wheel a meshing with the gear wheel a on the shaft a. The gearwheel a meshes with gear wheel a (Fig. 2) which is fixed on the shaft ofthe im pression cylinder and thus drives the latter. On the shaft a andthe parallel shaft (1, are mounted two intermeshing elliptical wheels(1- a", respectively, through which the power is transmitted at variable5 eed to the shaft a and thus to the disk-crank o which drives theconnecting rod 0). A short shaft a" passes through the cross head a ofthe connecting rod c and has mounted thereon two pairs of gear wheels,onepair a a gearing with the fixed racks a, (L and the other pair a a."gearing with racks a" (Fig. 1) on the underside of the reciprocatingtable. It will therefore be understood that the motor a by means of theintermediate gearing causes the short shaft o to be reciprocated, andthe .eciprocating table driv an to and fro by means of the gear wheels aa and racks a".

As the reciprocating table carries the chase and type bars towards theim ression cylinder the type bars pass under tile inking rollers B 13*.These rollers are driven by the distributing drum B by means of theIntermediate friction rollers B". The distributing drum H is driventhrough a chain of wheels A from the pinion A-gearing with the rack 9 a"on the underside of the reciprocating table A. Ink is supplied to thedistributing drum from the drum B through the intermediate drums orriders A and vibrator A;

' the drunrB is driven from the shaft of the impression cylinder B andcarries upon its axle the cam A which imparts the vibratory movement tothe vibrator A.

The chase 13 comprises several portions or bars of which in the exampleshown there are four namely 1) b b I) so arranged that they normally liein contact with each other, at the feeding end of the machine, so thatthe type bars or slips D fed into the machine will arrive thereon intheir closed positions. As

2 i V I s95,29o ;e

thereciprocating table C conveys the chase B beneath the impressioncylinder the several chase bars b b" b I) automatically separate to therequired distance, so that the printed matter upon the envelops will bespaced correctly, that is to say, the bar I) will rint a registrationnumber at the left haml corner of the envelop, the bar I) will print thename of the person to whom the envelop is to be sent, and the bars 6 bthe address of such person. The said chase bars, after the printingoperations, then close together again at the opposite or delivery 'endof the machine as the stroke or travel of the table C is beingcompleted, and the type bars or slips are finally removed from theseveral chase bars and conveyed away or otherwise disposed of asdesired.

The above described movements of the chase bars may be effected by meansof a bell crank lever E (Fig. 3) pivoted at e to the reci )rocatingtable C. The said lever E is adapted to engage at one end 6 with a camgroove or cam surface such as F on a fixed part of the machine, and atthe other end 0 with a sliding bar b that is connected with theinnermostone of the said chase bars so that movement will be imparted tothis chase bar I) in accordancewith the extent of movement that the bellcrank lever receives from the aforesaid'cam surface F. The nextsneceeding portion or bar I) and the one adjacent to it b are eachfurnished with a pair of rods b having adjust able collars or stoppieces I) and are subjected to the action of springs b that normallytend to keep the said chase bars pressed one against the other and bothof them against the outermost one I) which is fiXCCl. The position ofthe said collars or steps b 1s such that when. the innermost chase barI) is shifted by the aforesaid bell crank lever B, it acts in successionupon the stops and thereby separates the intermediate chase bars If 6from the outermost one I) and from each other, as shown in Fig. 3, to anextent depending on the position of the stop )ieces b. The chase barsare thus place into the required posit ionfor spacing the type bars theyearr being retained 1n their position by the bel crank lever until itreaches the opposite end of the said cam surface F, whereupon said bellcrank lever is moved under the influence of the compression spring Einto a position to permit the chase bars to come together again. I) bare guide ieces for the said chase bars. The said type )ars D are heldin place u on the chase bars by means of cli pieces suc i as G, whichcompiise fingers g having stems g controlled by s )rings g", said clippieces being moved into their disengaging position at the proper tunesby suit-able means such as hereinafter described for permitting the saidfingers g to become lifted fronrengagement with the ends of the typebars so that the latter can arm is fixed to the shaft 7:

be placed on and removed from the chase bars, v

The feeding of the type bars or strips D on to the chase bars from thefeed table of the a machine may bepeIfQ ed by means of a rising andtraveling 1 )latformwhichmay comprise a pair of rotary shafts carryingarms connected together at their free ends by intermittentlyby a pawland ratchet device It receiving its motion from a crank and connectingrod h. v

A hinged piece .or fence K is provided at the feeding end of the machinefor regulating the extent to which the type bars D are fed onto thechase B In the example shown two such fences are illustrated so that twosets of type bars can be operated upon simul taneously.

The actuation of each fence K is effected by means of an incline issecured to the reel rocating table C and adapted, upon t 1e returnstroke of the latter, to engage a roller is mounted on the end of a bentarm 7r which is fixed to a shaft 7: The roller 7; is then raised, theshaft is partially turned, and the fence K lifted, the latter beingcarried by an The clip pieces G are formed with stems g, the lowerextremities of which bear upon a plate 9 mounted on a rod g, the lowerend of which is supported on a bar 9 pivoted at one end to thereciprocating table and having at the other orfree end a roller whichengages with tilting levers g at each end of the machine,

said tiltinglevers being actuated through connecting rods 9, rockinglever 9 and rotating cam g. As the reciprocating table completes itsreturn stroke to the feeding end of the machine, the fence K is raisedas above described, and the clip pieces G are also raised by reason ofthe pivoted bar g engaging with the tilting lever 9 The continuedmovement of the reciprocating table carries the chase Bfbeyond the fenceto an extent corresponding to the width of four type bars and said chasepasses under the first four of the type bars that are waiting on thebridge piece H. I The table then commences to start moving in thereverse direction, that is to say towards the impression cylinder, andthe chase 13 carries the four type bars away with it; the clip pieces Gthen descend and hold the type bars upon the chase while thereciprocating table travels under the impression cylinder. alsodescended and the typeieeding mech anism again becomesoperative. feedingmore type bars forward until they fill up the ga )s on the bridge pieceH and abut against t e Meanwhile the fence I has $9 5,290 I i g3 fenceK, after which any further movement of the feeding mechanism merelyresults in the slipping of the traveling plat-form H under the typebars.

If five lines of type were required, the chase would of course consist,of five chase bars, and the fence K would be situated further from theshaft 7: by an amount equal to the width of the additional chase bar.

The removal of the type bars at the delivery end of the machine iseffected by means of a hinged piece or fence K which is raised bymovement of a bent arm 1: when a pivot ed inclined plate 7r" on thereciprocating table comes against a laterally mounted roller on saidbent arm 7c during the rearward travel of the table thus raising thefence K so as to allow the chaseand type bars to pass beyond the same.As the said table completes its rearward, movement the pivoted inclinedplate passes beyond the bent arm 15 and thus permits the fence K tofall-in front of the type bars. When the table again advances, the fenceK remains closed owing to the pivoted inclined plate It givin way to thelaterally mounted roller on the bent arm said roller lifting theaforesaid )late 1c and passing under it; the fence K therefore removesthe type bars from the chase, and retains them at the opposite ordelivery end of the machine, it being understood that the clip pieces (lare at this time raised by the tilting lever g as hereinbeforedescribed.

As the envelop to be printed is being carried along by the impressioncylinder B from the feed table B a gripping finger I) or equivalentdevice engages with and holds down the rear portion of the said enveloso as to maintain the whole of its area in c ose PIOXllilitY to thesurface of the cylinder and not merely its forward portion, which isheld by a gripping device I) in the usual manner.

.As the impression cylinder revolves, it carries the envelop downward tothe printing )osition to which the type bars have also )een carried bythe reciprocating table C. The printing having been effected theimpression cylinder conveys the printed envelop into a position fromwhich it is transferred to an auxiliary cylinder B by means of fingers'b in the usual way. From this auxiliary cylinder theenvelop isdelivered to the. mouth of the box or receptacle B by means of strippingfingers b, whereupon a plunger advances and )ushes the envelop pastsuitable stop )ieces l) into said box or receptacle, the sai stop piecesbeing of such a character that the envelops will pass them. by slightlybending.

The movement of the plunger 6 may be derived from a rotary cam b,rocking arms Zr, b and link I)".

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressioncylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent typebars, of means for laterally separating said type bars during themovement of the table, for the purpose specified.

, 2. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressioncylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent typebars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating tablefor supporting said type bars, and means for spacing said chase barsduring the movement of the table, for the purpose specified.

3. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table and a plurality of independent t )e bars, of aplurality of chase bars carried y the reciprocating table for supportingsaid type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement ofthe table, and means for feeding the type bars towards the chase barsintermittently, for the purpose s )ecified.

4. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of aplurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for sup)orting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during themovement of the table, an endless traveling platform for conveying thetype bars, and pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving saidplatform, for the purpose specified.

5. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of aplurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table forsupporting said type bars, a bell-crank lever operatively connccted withsai.' chase bars, and a cam surface for actuating said lever during themovement of the said table, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

6'. In a printing machine, the combination. with the impressioncylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent ty )0bars, of a fixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar,intermediate chase bars, means whereby the movement of said inner chasebar is imparted to the intermediate chase bars to varying extents, andmeans for imparting said movement to the inner chase bar during themovement of the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of afixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, intermediate chasebars, rods on said intermediate chase bars, adjustable stop-pieces onsaid rods for engaging with said inner chase bar, and means forimparting movement to the latter during the movement of the table,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

bars, of a fixed, outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, a slidingbar connected with said inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars, rodson said intermediate chase bars, adjust;- able stop-pieces on said rodsfor engaging with said inner chase bar, a bell-crank lever whereof onearm engages with said sliding bar, and a stationary cam surface forengaging with the Other arm of said lever, substan tially as and for thepurpose specified.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of afixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, a sliding barconnected with said inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars,

rods on said intermediate chase bars, adjustable stop pieces on saidrods for engaging with said inner chase bar, springs for controllingsaid rods, a bell-crank lever whereof one arm engages with said slidingbar, a stationary cam surface for engaging with the other arm of saidlever, and a spring for controlling said lever, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

10. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of aplurality of chase bars carried by the reel proeating table forsupporting said type bars. means for spacing said chase bars during themovement of the table, and means for temporarily retaining said typebars on the chase bars, for the purpose specified.

11, In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocatiug table, and a plurality of independenttype bars, of a.plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table forsupporting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during themovement of the table, and spring controlled clip pieces for temporarilyretaining said type bars on the chase ars, for the purpose specified.

12. In a printing machine, the eombina tion with the impressioncylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent typebars, of a plurality 'of chase bars carried by the reciprocating tablefor supporting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars duringthe movement of the table, means for temporarily retaining said typebars on the chase bars, and means for moving said retaining means into aposition to liberate the type bars as the reciprocating table completesits movement to the delivery end of the machine and begins to return,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independ ent type'bars, of aplurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocatr table for supportingsaid type bars, means 4LT spacing said chase bars during the movement ofthe table,

springlcontrolledclirspieces for retaining 'said type bars on the chasebars, stems on saidclip-picces, a movable plate for engaging with saidstems, tilt'n leyers for operatmg said plate, and cam' and lovermechanism for actuating said tilting ievers, as the recipr0- eatingtable completes its to-and-fro movements substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

14. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressi n cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of api ralit-y of chase bars carried by the reeipreta-ting table forsupporting said type bars. cans for feeding said type bars onto the c. ebars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon the chasebars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of thetable, and means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars exec )twhen the table completes its return SiIOliG, szibstantially as and forthe purpose specified.

15. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressii ncylinder, the reciprocating table, and a PL aralityof independent typeba 5, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating tablefor supporting said type bars, means ;'or spacing said chase bars duringthe movement of the table, means for tem )orarii" retaining said tyrebars upon the cnase bars. a hinged fence or obstructing the fCttlltL ofthe type bars onto the chase, and an incl -12 on the reciprocating tablefor raising said fence as the table com- )letcs its return strokesubstantially as and lor the purpose specified.

16. In a printmg achine, the combination with the impres "v11 cylinder,the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of ap-iurality of chase bars carried by the recipr eating table forsupporting said type i? means for feeding said type bars onto tntemporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means forspacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, a hinged fencefor obstructing the feeding of the type bars onto the chase bars, and anincline on the reciprocating table for raising said fence as the tankcompletes itsreturn stroke. substantially as and for the purposespecii'ied.

17. In a printing: chine, the combination with the impression cylinder,the reciprocatiizg table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of anirality of chase bars carried by the recip' ating table fcr supportingsaid type means for ceding said type bars onto chase bars, means fortemporarily retaining said type bars upon base bars, means for the chasebars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of thetable,

means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars except when the tablecompletes lts return stroke, and means for retaining the type barscarried by the chase bars at the ent type bars, of a plurality of chasebars carrier by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars,means .for feeding said type bars onto the chase bars, means fortemporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means forspacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, means formoving'said retaining means into a )OSltlOll to liberate the type barsas the table completes its movement to the delivery end of the machineand begins to return, and means, for obstructing the feeding of the typebars except when the table comletes its return stroke, substantially asand tor the purpose specified.

19. In a printing machine, the combina tion with the impressioncylinder, the recigrocating table, and a lurality of indepen ent ty ebars, of a p urality of chase oars carrie by the reciprocating table forsupporting said type ars, means for feeding said type bars onto thechase bars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon thechase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of thetable, means for moving said retainin means into a position to liberatethe type ars as the table completes its movement to the delivery end ofthe machine and begins to return, means for retaining the type barscarried by the chase bars at the delivery end of the machine, and

means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars except when the tablecompletes'its return stroke, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED MGPHERSON. lVitn'esses:

T. SELBY WARDLE, WALTER J. S. MERTEN.

